Exmouth Town Veterans sign off for the festive break with victory in a 10-goal thriller.

A chilly Winslade Park played host on Sunday to Clyst Valley Veterans and Exmouth Town FC Veterans in the Stich 2 Print Devon County Veterans League, with Town triumphing 7-3 in their final game of 2022. 

Clyst started brightly and fashioned several good chances during the first 10 minutes, but Town soon settled and began passing the ball around fluently. They were rewarded when Adam Bond cut in from the right and coolly slotted the ball in the corner of the Clyst goal. 

Town then fashioned numerous chances, but some excellent goalkeeping kept them at bay for most of the first 45 minutes. A late flurry of goals from James Nicholls, Dave O'Connor, Sam Schlaefli and an incisive Clyst Valley counter attack made the score 4-1 to Town at half time.

The teams went toe to toe in the second half, with Schlaefli notching the fifth and Clyst hitting straight back. Clyst then grabbed another to make it 5-3, before Darryl Nicholas surged down the middle onto a Schaefli layoff and exquisitely curled a 35 yard shot into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance. 

Schlaefli continued his relentless pursuit of the Golden Boot trophy with a stunning injury time lob that secured his second hat trick of the season, making the final score 7-3 in favour of Town. 

Speaking afterwards, Exmouth Town Veterans Manager Tim Wright said: "We were a new team formed at the start of the season, and we have finished 2022 in second place in the league with a game in hand and plans to push on next year. Hopefully the lads won't have too many mince pies over Christmas, as our first game of 2023 is home to Starcross Veterans and we look forward to welcoming them to Exmouth."

Exmouth Town Veterans FC would like to thank The York Inn in Exmouth for becoming the HQ of the side and kindly providing excellent food and warm hospitality for both teams after home matches.